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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask neighbours not to let their dog stray into our garden?

51 replies

1967buglet · 16/04/2022 02:01

Our neighbours have a very energetic pointer. It comes into our garden several times a week, barks and growls at us, comes into our drive when we have deliveries, barks and growls and bounds around us when we walk down the shared track with the neighbours. When the dog was a puppy, we were more tolerant of it as they have a couple small children (and nanny), and well, pandemic.

When I wrote a note to ask them to control their dog better, I was met by a complaint that our cat sometimes sits on their windowsill and that their cat and our cat fight. Er….

Our properties are very rural, and there are acres of fields that dog can run in, which it does, often without the owners knowing….they are on the hunt for the dog all the time. madly calling and whistling after it, and it just…runs away, or runs back and into our garden until we yell after it and chase it back to their house. We have a newly laid hedge that the dog can get into. Our neighbour complains if we do literally anything to the house, so a fence would probabyl not go down too well.

AIBU to complain to them about this, and secondly to get in touch with the dog warden about it if they don’t do anything?. They said they were eventually going to fence their property better, but we’ve been putting up with this for about 18 months. Thanks

OP posts:
FiveShelties · 16/04/2022 02:03

Could you put up a fence?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2022 02:14

Don't ask them tell them
Their dog is out of control.
It is against the Law for their dog to be out of control in public or your garden.
As you live rural they run the risk of their dog being shot dead by a farmer if there is a danger of the dog worrying livestock.

Your fence only has to define your boundary they have the responsibility to keep the dog in, not you to keep it out .
Regarding the cat - cats are not covered by the law and they cannot throw the cat wandering old chestnut at you .

Can you tell I;ve had experience with neighbours dogs in my garden !

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2022 02:34

Our neighbour complains if we do literally anything to the house, so a fence would probabyl not go down too well

Actually in your shoes I'd just d the fence and not care what they think .
They've said for the last 18 months they'll do a fence but not done so .
They let their dog ruin your garden and probably the hedge .

If they say anything then tell them you don't want to escalate it but you will report to Dog Warden ( take video if you can) if they don't bother to train their high energy ( probablt expensive ) dog .
Por thing is going to get run over they're so lax ..

Seafog · 16/04/2022 02:47

Time for a fence

Mediumred · 16/04/2022 02:48

Christ, we are in London and our dog is a blimmin’ terror but we would be absolutely mortified if she went on like this, well we just wouldn’t let her, who lets a dog with no recall just maraud about the country getting lost and annoying people, and then compares it to a cat!!! They sound awful and I would be thinking about phoning the warden and like the Pp I would be worrying that dog could get shot if it is not put under control soon!

avamiah · 16/04/2022 02:48

I would say you have to have a fence as you say the dog is growling at you which is just a non starter.

Original poster
1967buglet · 16/04/2022 03:16

We would like a fence, but are probably limited to a hedge or a low rail and post fence as our house borders a listed building …the planning rules around here are very complicated. We are back pretty far from the road, so I don’t think there is much danger of the dog getting run over. That said, their house is also adjacent to a parkland which they don’t own where sheep are lambing, so no, it isn’t a good situation, and I feel sorry for the dog quite frankly. Thanks all for your comments.

OP posts:
NowNowDermot · 16/04/2022 03:52

Definitely contact the dog warden (if your council still have one, not all do now unfortunately), the dog shouldn't be free to roam if it's barking, growling and bounding round people, that would be classed as 'dangerously out of control' so your neighbour is risking prosecution. Don't put up with it though OP, you're a saint for not having reached the end of your tether ages ago and NDN have had ample chance to sort it.

FloraPostePosts · 16/04/2022 04:01

@1967buglet

We would like a fence, but are probably limited to a hedge or a low rail and post fence as our house borders a listed building …the planning rules around here are very complicated. We are back pretty far from the road, so I don’t think there is much danger of the dog getting run over. That said, their house is also adjacent to a parkland which they don’t own where sheep are lambing, so no, it isn’t a good situation, and I feel sorry for the dog quite frankly. Thanks all for your comments.
Unless you have previously made enquiries about the fence and been told you can’t have one, then you are making huge presumptions about the setting of a listed building issue.

Call your local authority’s planning reception and ask them for an appointment with a planner and conservation officer for pre-application advice about putting up a fence in the setting of a listed building; take with you details of the precise location and style you want for the fence, and see what they say.

You sound like you’ve convinced yourself there’s nothing you can do, but you have to try. You can’t make them mind the dog better, or to suddenly start being considerate of you, so the alternative is to take action which is available to you. For me, that would also include calling the dog warden when the dog is out, for the animal’s own safety.

Original poster
1967buglet · 16/04/2022 04:44

Thanks everyone. It has just been one running battle after another with the neighbours. It is to the point I’ve thought seriously about selling up over this and other matters we’ve faced. DH isn’t that bothered with it all….he just is going to stand his ground, and he doesn’t want to leave our place.

But yes, I am going to have to call the dog warden.

And, I’m surely no saint…there was a previous angry email exchange about some other issues a few months ago, and I yelled and swore at the dog today to get it out of our garden. I just am fed up.

@FloraPostePosts thanks especially for the good advice

OP posts:
PooFlinger · 16/04/2022 04:48

I had a neighbour whose dogs kept running into my back garden from the road to do their business on my lawn, while on walks with their owner. One day I got the rage while scooping it up and flung it over the fence into his garden. He turned up raging, and I told him I didn't have a dog so there was a very simple way to ensure it never happened again. Never saw those dogs in my garden again!

Fraaahnces · 16/04/2022 04:55

I feel sorry for the dog too, but if your kids are hurt it will probably end up being destroyed. They’re negligent owners and arsehole neighbours. I think the dog warden is your only resort really.

Flickflak · 16/04/2022 05:18

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Original poster
1967buglet · 16/04/2022 08:44

DH convinced me to let things calm down and to see if the dog comes again into the garden this weekend. If the dog strays, I’ll call the dog warden on Tuesday. I have to go see planning about another matter anyhow (yep, neighbours trying to do us because they were caught not following their planning permission and had to have a retrospective), so I’ll see about the fence. Dealing with the neighbours is getting to be a full time job, and I’m tired of it, and them. We love our house and were going to retire here, but the situation is gutting, and I feel like I’m going to be forced out.

And @Flickflak, that sounds frustrating. It is the repetitive misbehaviour that gets me…pointers are infinitely trainable….sure it takes a bit, but dogs are happier I think when they are obedient and calmer.

OP posts:
Chasingsquirrels · 16/04/2022 09:00

@PooFlinger

I had a neighbour whose dogs kept running into my back garden from the road to do their business on my lawn, while on walks with their owner. One day I got the rage while scooping it up and flung it over the fence into his garden. He turned up raging, and I told him I didn't have a dog so there was a very simple way to ensure it never happened again. Never saw those dogs in my garden again!
I initially read that as you flinging the fog over the fence.
Chasingsquirrels · 16/04/2022 09:01

DOG fog

PikachuAndMe · 16/04/2022 09:39

If I saw the dog running through the field of sheep I would shoot it. Problem solved.

worriedatthistime · 16/04/2022 09:50

Tel them its not acceptable they have a duty by law to control their dog and they aren't doing it
I have a dog he is not allowed to just run off , even in the park we keep him away from running up to people, only people who ask us if they can stroke him do we allow him near as we are aware not everyone loves dogs

Trixiefirecracker · 16/04/2022 09:58

Can you get a dog dazer?

NamelessGhoul · 16/04/2022 10:03

Can you open up another side of your garden so it keeps on running? If they are chasing it for miles it might be an incentive.

Failing that, chickenwire can be effective and not especially intrusive.

Ohmygoshyoudontsay · 16/04/2022 10:07

Nevermind the hedge. That dog is a danger and could hurt somebody or cause a road traffic accident running about by itself on the road.

Honeyroar · 16/04/2022 10:12

Just put an agricultural post and rail fence with sheep netting against it and a five bar wooden gate on your drive. No planning dept will complain about that and it will keep everything out of the garden. Maintain your own boundaries. Solve one of your problems without stress. Yes ideally they should keep their dog with them, but they clearly won’t without a battle and more bad feeling.

Shinyandnew1 · 16/04/2022 10:15

If their dog can wander into your garden, it suggests your garden is not secure?

thetemptationofchocolate · 16/04/2022 12:09

Certainly the neighbours' garden is not secure, and if they are just letting the dog out into an unsecured space then they are BVU.
I feel sorry for the dog. If it gets into worrying sheep it will be shot.

lochmaree · 16/04/2022 12:24

@Shinyandnew1 that's irrelevant, their dog shouldn't be wandering in. it should be secure in its own garden, it isnt up to non dog owners to secure their garden from irresponsible dog owners.